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How to Construct an Epic Charcuterie & Cheese Board

I first discovered a love for meat & cheese boards in my twenties, when my uncle Matt started ordering these incredible charcuterie boards to share with the extended family during Thanksgiving. It is the one holiday where my entire extended family goes really big on food. I remember hearing the prepared platters were expensive to order, and I am sure they were. They are also pricey to make at home, although less expensive than when you order them from a nice specialty foods store.
At home, my wife and I love creating these types of extensive meat & cheese boards. The visual display is stunning, and they are so wonderful to eat. There are normally only two of us here for many of these occasions, which results in both of us consuming an incredible quantity of cheeses, cured meats, pates, jams, and bread in one sitting. But it’s so worth it.
Serve up an epic charcuterie and cheese board at your next large gathering or big celebration event; you will be showered in praise by all those who love food.
If you want to keep things on the smaller-side, select a few nice cheeses and meats or pates, add a scoop of raspberry jam and some bread, and call it dinner.

Ingredients

For the Meat Components:

  • 12 slices Prosciutto di Parma
  • 24 slices Spanish Spicy Chorizo
  • 12 slices Saucisson Sec
  • 12 slices Cured Coppa Ham
  • 8 slices Salami
  • 8 slices Smoked Ham
  • 8 slices Mortadella
  • 8oz Pork Liver Pate
  • 8oz Chicken Liver Pate
  • 8 oz Duck Liver Pate

For the Cheese Components:

  • 1 wheel Brie
  • 8 slices Fontina
  • 8 slices Parmigiano Reggiano
  • 8 slices Gruyere
  • 12 slices Aged Cheddar
  • 12 slices Sliced Gouda
  • 8 slices Gorgonzola
  • 12 slices Manchego
  • 8 slices Chevre

For the Remaining Components:

  • 1 jar Dijon Mustard
  • 1 jar Cornichons
  • 1 cup Olives
  • 1/2 cup Figs dried
  • 1/2 cup Apricots dried
  • 1/2 cup Walnuts chopped
  • 1/2 cup Almonds chopped
  • 1.5 cups Jams or jellies (apricot, raspberry, or cherry)
  • 4oz Breadsticks
  • 16oz Assorted Crackers
  • 1 loaf French Bread

Instructions

  • Begin by gathering all the ingredients you will need to create your epic and incredible meat, cheese, and charcuterie platter.
  • *If you are missing anything, don’t worry about it.
  • Prepare the sliced Prosciutto di Parma, Spanish Chorizo, Saucisson Sec, Coppa, Salami, Smoked Ham, Mortadella, Fontina, Parmigiano Reggiano, Gruyere, Aged Cheddar, Gouda, Gorgonzola, and Manchego cheeses.
  • Artfully arrange the sliced meats and cheeses on a large platter or board. Arrange the Prosciutto di Parma in the center of the platter, with the other meats and cheeses fanning out around the center.
  • Place the Brie wheel in the center of the platter, surrounded by the sliced meats and cheeses.
  • Place a bowl of Dijon mustard and a bowl of cornichons on the platter for dipping.
  • Arrange the portions of pate on the platter.
  • Place a small bowl of olives on the platter.
  • Place a bowl of dried figs, apricots, walnuts, and almonds on the platter.
  • Place a small bowl of jam or jelly (apricot, raspberry, or cherry) on the platter.
  • Serve the platter with accompaniments of crackers, breadsticks, and sliced French bread.
  • *You can warm up the bread for a few minutes in the oven if you like.
    Enjoy!

Notes

You can assemble the board in advance and store it in a cool place, or even in your fridge if it is large enough. Remember to bring the board to room temperature before serving, as the meats and cheeses will have more flavor when they are a bit warmer.
You may think the quantity of jams and jellies listed above sounds excessive. The jams and jellies are my favorite component when they are combined with the pates, meats, and cheeses. The sweetness and acidity they add to the individual bites you assemble helps to balance out some of the richness and saltiness the comes from the other ingredients.